Chrysanthemum plant names Light Davis

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Light Davis particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; light red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days; plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 laterals after pinch; and recommended as spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar named Light Davis.

Light Davis, identified as 4179 (84-382E03), is a product of a mutationinduction program. Light Davis was discovered and selected by CornelisP. VandenBerg on Jun. 1, 1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas,Calif. in comparative flower trials of selections of radiation sportsoriginating from irradiation of the cultivar identified as Davis,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,325 and described as a spray pot mumwith a flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red purple ray floretcolor; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fullyopened; flowering response period of 51 to 63 days after start of shortdays; plant height of 18 to 28 cm with 2 to 3 applications of 2500 ppmB-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot; and a spreadingand prolific branching pattern, with 4 to 6 laterals after pinch. Oneselection in these comparative flower trials was identified by the codenumber 4084, which was selected in October 1989 as one flowering plantwithin a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stockplants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla., on Apr. 13, 1989. Repeated flowerings ofcode 4084 showed a mixture of plants with different ray floret color.One plant with a light red-purple ray floret color was selected on Jun.1, 1990 and given the code number 4179 (84-382E03), and subsequently thecultivar name Light Davis.

The irradiation program resulting in code 4084 and ultimately in LightDavis had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of theparent cultivar Davis. The irradiation program comprised irradiatingcuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and2000 rads. A total of 1466 cuttings harvested from a total of 225irradiated plants were planted on Jul. 31, Jul. 24 and Jul. 10, 1989. Ofthese, 27 initial selections were made, which selections were thenrevegetated and reflowered. Four consecutive flowerings resulted indiscarding 21 of the original 27 selections on Jul. 9, 1990. Threeselections were retained and three selections were reselected aspossible introductions. Reselections were made because of the fact thatthe flowering plants consisted of more than one color, as described for4084. Of these 6 selections, 4 will be commercially introduced as LightDavis, Coral Davis, Orange Davis and Regal Davis, the last three ofwhich are disclosed in pending plant patent applications of applicant.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Light Davis was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inDecember 1989 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., bytechnicians working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.Light Davis was reselected from the original selection on Jun. 1, 1990.The first act of asexual reproduction of the reselection wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from this reselectionin August, 1990, in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. bytechnicians working under the supervision of the inventor.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Light Davis are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Light Davis has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Light Davis, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Light red-purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days.

6. Plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B9 SP, ranges from 20 to25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 lateralsafter pinch.

8. Recommended as spray pot mum.

The accompanying color photographic drawing is a top perspective view ofpotted plants of Light Davis, with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with thecolors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Light Davis is the parent cultivar Davis. Most traits ofLight Davis are similar to those of Davis, except for the ray floretcolor, which is significantly lighter than the ray floret color ofDavis, and the flowering response time to short days, which has beenobserved to be two days slower than Davis in several flowering trials.When comparing the description of Light Davis with Davis, it is evidentthat Davis has a wider range of flowering response and plant height thanLight Davis. The reason for this is that the description of Davis isbased on evaluations over a 2 year time period, while the description ofLight Davis is based on 4 flowerings in a 3 month period.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onApr. 1, 1991.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Light Davis.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--64 to 70 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Lightred-purple.

Color (upper surface).--70C to 70D, slightly overcast with 75B.

Color (under surface).--70D.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--9A.

Color (immature).--144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 15 to 16 longdays prior to start of short days, with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Light Davis, as described and illustrated. 